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gilding. He discovered
the international
Society of Gilders,
“and from the time
I joined, my gilding
quality began to grow,”
he said.
With support from the
Wyoming Arts Council,
Bryant pioneered and
developed a process
of digital printing on
hand-gilded paper.
Barrie demonstrated gilding
The technique has
at the Washakie Museum
led to international
Quick Draw last year.
recognition and to
teaching at the National Conference at Las Vegas’ West
Coast Art & Frame Expo.
Barrie Bryant carving a picture frame to
complement artwork by A.B. Word.
collaborative art,” he said. “The
art and frame become extensions
of each other.”
Bryant became interested in
gilding with gold leaf in 1999.
This old-school, hands-on
craftsmanship has changed little
in five millennia. “There is no
way a machine can gild a capitol
dome with gold leaf or illuminate
a manuscript with shell gold or
tool punchwork in an icon’s gilded
surface. It is still done by human
hands in real human time based
upon human traditions handed
down by masters to apprentices.
But I did not know any skilled
practitioners, and it was almost
impossible to find instructional
material.”
A friend gave Bryant 10 years of
Picture Framing Magazine, and he
What makes Barrie Bryant and Sam Angelo noteworthy
is their ability to think creatively, to make connections
from other skills and disciplines, and their willingness to
share.
“My goal as an artist, frame-maker and gilder is to
pay forward the old traditions,”
Bryant said. “But it’s not enough
to just copy what has been done
before. Like any good business
entrepreneur, it’s important to
take chances -- and not fear
failure or success.
“My advice to anyone wanting
to learn a skill is to take time to
master the craft,” said Bryant.
“Then be prepared to move
beyond knowledge into the
unknown. What could be more
exciting?”
Members of Worland Wyoming
Woodturners will demonstrate at
the Big Horn Basin Folk Festival
in Hot Springs State Park,
Thermopolis, Wyoming, August
5-6, 2017. W L M
Bryant pioneered and developed a process of
printing digital art on hand-gilded paper.
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